Pros and Cons: Painted Brick Exteriors

August 14, 2017

Not loving your home’s old brick exterior? Thinking of painting it? So many of the exteriors inspiring us lately on Pinterest and Instagram look fresh with painted brick. It is a clean look and a perfect way to overhaul a boring or dated home. I love painted brick but there are a few things to consider before you go ahead with your own home refresh. Today we’re looking at the pros and cons of painted brick homes and a few timeless exterior color inspirations that we love.

Pros

Painting your brick exterior can be a relatively easy fix for an uninspiring home and create major curb appeal. You can take an old orange or yellow brick that looks dated and create drama with a dark and moody color, or a go classic white for a crisp clean look. It is a way to take the home you can afford and transform it to something you also love. It can be especially affordable if you are willing to do the work yourself. Although it takes research and time to do it properly, it is totally DIY doable for those on a budget.

Cons

Although painted brick homes can look beautiful, you’ll want to be sure your committed to the look because going back is often impossible and always expensive. On top of that, painted brick usually requires more maintenance than if you left the brick alone. Dirt and mildew are often more visible on painted brick, especially if going white or light in color, and you’ll need to power wash or scrub your house down now and again. Using the wrong type of paint, or not noticing chips or cracks in the paint can trap moisture in the porous bricks and cause mold or a breakdown of the brick. Brick experts agree that to correctly maintain your painted brick, it should be repainted every 3-5 years.

Color Inspirations

As long as you’ve thought about the cons and made plans to upkeep your painted brick, it is one of the best ways to overhaul a tired home. Look at these beautiful homes and see how the different paint colors create a look to love.

White

Bright white painted brick can be a perfect blend of timeless yet fresh and modern. It is a neutral that will make other exterior details pop, like the cedar roof and steel-frame windows of this coastal beauty.